Saturday, June 20, 2009

ROCK STEADY WITH "THE MARVELS"

The Marvels were noted for their doo-wop approach to reggae. The performers heralded from Jamaica and each member had previously been involved in session work. Frustrated by anonymity they amalgamated their talents and emerged as a vocal group in 1964. The line-up consisted of Alex "Dimples" Hinds, Nell Hinds and Eddie Smith. As a trio they continued with session work notably as back up singers on Prince Buster's hit "Wash Wash". The song was performed by the Prince on the first documentary of Jamaican music This Is Ska. The song was also revived in 1994 by Lovindeer, albeit with risqué lyrics. The Marvels recorded throughout the 60s enjoying minor hits with "Tell All Those Girls", "Saturday" and "Fleet Street". During this time other singers performed with the group including Jackie Edwards and Hazel McCauley who joined them when they toured the cabaret circuit. They toured Europe and the Far East and covered songs including the Platters' "The Great Pretender" and the spiritual "Old Man River". By the early 70s the group released a cover of Aretha Franklin's, "Rock Steady" on the Pama Supreme label and enjoyed their biggest hit. The success of the single led to work with Dandy Livingstone who enrolled their services on his own recordings and produced a number of releases through his Shady Tree productions. The group provided backing vocals for Dandy when he performed, "Suzanne Beware Of The Devil" on UK's music programmeTop Of The Pops. The Pama compilation This Is Reggae Volume Three featured a photograph of their appearance on the cover. Continuing with cover versions they scored hits in 1972 with "Then He Kissed Me" and in 1973 the gospel-flavoured "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands". By 1974 the disco-inspired "Get On Your Feet" flopped and in 1975 Dimples Hinds recorded as a soloist enjoying a club hit with his version of "Why Don't You Do Right". As a trio they were unable to emulate the success of "Rock Steady" but this did not deter the Decca Records' subsidiary Gull when they attempted to revive their career in 1976 with, "Lovers Concerto" a moderate hit. The group featured on a showcase of sentimental reggae in the late 70s touring Europe alongside carnival king, Roy Alton, Tim Chandell, Dandy Livingstone and the Immigrants. Dimples went on to enjoy a successful solo career performing sentimental reggae hits. In 1983 the trio returned to the re-activated Pama label where they enjoyed reggae hit with "Heaven Must Have Sent You". Dimples Hinds has continued to pursue his solo career enjoying a number of hits in the sentimental reggae genre widely referred to as big peoples music.